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The Guardian Politics1 Mar 2026

Foreign Office starts planning evacution of thousands of Britons in Middle East

About 76,000 nationals thought to be in the region as tensions rise after US-Israeli attacks on Iranian regime US-Israeli war on Iran: latest updates The Foreign Office is drawing up plans to evacuate tens of thousands of British citizens if war in the Middle East escalates, with many travellers currently stranded in Dubai. The government does not know how many British nationals are resident, on holiday or otherwise travelling across the Gulf, but it said 76,000 have so far registered their

DefenceHousing
The Guardian Politics1 Mar 2026

Starmer faces greater quandary over ‘special relationship’ after Iran attack

PM is in diplomatically precarious position of declining to endorse US strikes while also refusing to condemn them US-Israel war on Iran – latest updates It was perhaps naive for No 10 ever to position Keir Starmer as a “Donald Trump whisperer” capable of persuading the unpredictable US president to step back from reckless decisions. The “special relationship” has been under severe strain in recent months over the UK’s decision to give up sovereignty of the Chagos Islands, and the refusal of E

Defence
The Guardian Politics1 Mar 2026

Datacentre developers face calls to disclose effect on UK’s net emissions

Campaign groups write to technology secretary amid concerns that sites could double overall electricity demand Datacentre developers are facing pressure to reveal whether their projects will increase the UK’s net greenhouse gas emissions, amid concerns the sites could double national electricity demand. Campaign groups have written to the UK technology secretary, Liz Kendall, warning that the energy required by new AI infrastructure poses a “serious threat to efforts to decarbonise the electrici

DefenceEnvironment
The Guardian Politics1 Mar 2026

Few will mourn leader of ‘evil’ regime Ali Khamenei, says UK defence secretary

John Healey says there is ‘real and rising threat’ from Iran as US and Israeli military action divides political opinion US-Israel war on Iran – latest updates The UK defence secretary has said few will mourn Iran’s supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, whose death was announced after US and Israeli airstrikes. John Healey, a senior cabinet minister, described the Iranian regime as “evil” and said it had menaced the west by sponsoring at least 20 terrorist plots to attack the UK as well as involvement

PoliticsDefence
The Guardian Politics1 Mar 2026

Ex-minister adds to UK calls for ban on political donations in cryptocurrency

Exclusive: Labour’s Rushanara Ali plans to intervene in elections bill amid warnings of foreign interference A former Labour minister has added her voice to those of a growing list of experts and senior MPs calling for a ban on political donations in cryptocurrency as concerns grow over foreign interference in British elections. Rushanara Ali, the Labour MP who helped draft the elections bill when she was a minister in the communities department, called for the government to strengthen the legis

PoliticsDefence
The Guardian Politics28 Feb 2026

Decision to allow UK exports to Armenian firm under review over Russian links

Cygnet Texkimp was approved to export machines to Rydena, but ministers examining deal after Guardian highlighted founders’ links to Kremlin military supply chain Ministers are reviewing a decision to allow a British company to export hi-tech equipment to Armenia after the Guardian uncovered links to the Russian military supply chain. Cygnet Texkimp, based in Cheshire, was weeks away from exporting two machines that produce carbon fibre “prepreg”, a lightweight material that can be used in a ran

DefenceEnvironment
The Guardian Politics28 Feb 2026

Starmer chairs Cobra meeting after strikes by US and Israel on Iran

Prime minister leads emergency committee to decide on UK’s response to latest fighting in Middle East US-Israeli attack on Iran – live updates US and Israel strikes on Iran: what we know so far Keir Starmer is chairing a meeting of the UK government’s Cobra emergency committee as Britain decides how to respond to the US-Israeli bombing of Iran, and Tehran’s retaliation against bases in the Gulf. The UK did not participate in the first wave of strikes early on Saturday but had deployed RAF Typ

Defence
The Guardian Politics28 Feb 2026

Keir Starmer’s response to the Gorton and Denton debacle should be a government that truly, finally, reflects him | Tom Baldwin

In the past he has been urged to follow strategies that don’t really match his core beliefs. That’s changing, as it must, because he knows the clock is ticking Tom Baldwin is the author of Keir Starmer, The Biography In a crowded and overheated bar towards the end of the evening a few months ago, I received some strange parenting advice from one of those “Labour strategist” types. We were discussing – maybe arguing – over the government’s position on Gaza. Eventually I asked if he could provid

DefenceHousing
The Guardian Politics27 Feb 2026

The Guardian view on Gorton and Denton: a warning shot across Labour’s bows | Editorial

Hannah Spencer’s win was more than protest. It signalled that Labour’s moral language and coalition are up for grabs in its safest terrain The Greens have every reason to celebrate their victory in the Gorton and Denton byelection. From a standing start in a Manchester constituency, Zack Polanski’s team tripled his party’s vote to capture a seat that had effectively voted Labour in every election but one since 1906 – the year Labour was born. Labour coming third behind Reform UK is not routine m

PoliticsDefenceEnvironmentReform
The Guardian Politics27 Feb 2026

Rachel Reeves ‘to give go-ahead’ for £1bn military helicopter deal

Report says chancellor to sign contract with Italy’s Leonardo, saving 3,000 manufacturing jobs at Yeovil factory Rachel Reeves is to approve a £1bn deal to build military helicopters in Yeovil, saving about 3,000 manufacturing jobs, according to reports. The chancellor is expected to sign a contract with Leonardo – the Italian owner of the former Westland factory in Yeovil, Somerset – to build the new battlefield helicopters, after months of speculation as to whether the historical site would su

Defence
The Guardian Politics27 Feb 2026

Labour leadership truce holds for now but clock is ticking for Starmer

Countdown to May has begun and dejected Labour MPs want to see in that time that PM is capable of change When Labour’s Scottish leader, Anas Sarwar, urged Keir Starmer to stand down two weeks ago, Starmer’s closest advisers presented him a choice: fight, flight or hand over his destiny to his party by calling a leadership contest. The prime minister chose the first option and his Downing Street team sprung into action to contain the threat. At the moment of greatest peril for Starmer, MPs peered

PoliticsDefence
The Guardian Politics27 Feb 2026

Legal challenge over plan to use East Sussex army camp as asylum housing dismissed

Judge rules that Crowborough residents cannot challenge a decision before it has been formally made A residents’ group has lost its high court challenge against a Home Office decision to use an army training camp to house asylum seekers. Crowborough Shield, a group of concerned residents, launched a legal challenge after securing more than £100,000 for legal fees with crowdfunding, after a government announcement to use Crowborough army training camp as accommodation for asylum seekers. Continu

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